Memorial candle



March 2, 1937 s. D. VALLE MEMORIAL CANDLE Filed July 7, 1954-- mb M ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates in general to memorial candles or the like and in particular to means associated with such candles soas .to adapt them for use under a great variety of conditions, and

to increase the reliability and safety of operation.

Whencandles are burned in cemeteries or other outdoor places, weather conditions, such'as wind or rain, frequently interfere with their continuous operation and where candles are burned indoors they are still subject to being extinguished by drafts and in addition there is a fire hazard connected with their use when they are unenclosed, due to the danger of the flame coming in contact with inflammable material. It is the general ob- 5 ject of my invention to provide meanstfor ;pro-

tecting candles against wind and other weather conditions and for eliminating fire "hazards in relation thereto, so that they are adapted for continuous burning at any and all times.

When it has been attempted to shieldcandles by enclosing them, and particularly by enclosing the flames thereof with weatherproof and fireproof shields, the result has usually-been unsatisfactory because of the interference of such shields with the proper air supplyand of failure to provide proper means to assure the draft necessary for such air supply. A further object of my invention therefore is the provision of meansfor shielding a candle flame and yet assuring the proper air circulation necessary for its operation.

Candles designed for ceremonial religious or other use ordinarily areprovided with receptacles into which they are conveniently set and which catch the drippings while the candle is burning and serve as a convenient means to .handle the candle when necessary. Such receptacles are usually designedto receive a certain length of candle, which candle is adapted to burn a definite time dependent on'its length. When it is attempted to use a candle-burning :a short interval of time, that is, a short .candle, it is found to be inconvenient to light the candle because its upper end is located below the top of .the receptacle so as to be difilcult to reach. This .condition heretofore has been corrected onlyby theuse of receptacles of various depths suited to the length of the candles. It is therefore another object of my invention to, provide means whereby a receptacle of aparticular sizemaybe-conveniently used with candles of different sizes.

Afurther object of my invention is to provide ventilating means for a candle flame inthe form of a, receptacle adapted to receive .drippings from the candle when the same is inverted accidentally or otherwise.

For the=attainment of these objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I -have illustrated one embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is'a side elevation partly in section of myinvention; and

Figure .2 is a-sectional View on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

On referring to the drawing it will be observed that Ishow an outer receptacle or container Ill, which may ,be-of ornamental form, which may be made of any suitable or preferred material, but lsconveniently made of a material which is not readily frangible, and is heavy enough to provide suificient weight so-thatthe candle will-be assured .of a stable foundation, which will prevent its upsetting. In the drawing it is illustrated as of massive construction .and this massiveness of construction, in conjunction with the use of suitable material willinsure a receptacle satisfactory .for its intended use. ,At l2 I:have shown an inner containerseating within the outer container I0 .andhavingits-top projecting slightly above the .top thereof, .wherebyits projecting surface may be conveniently grasped when it is desired to remove the inner container from its seat in the outer .one. .This inner container which may be .made of .any ,suitable .or preferred material is conveniently rmadeof, glass,. as I have found this material very satisfactory for the purpose. The container ll'2 may have its outer walls spaced from receptacle lllatallpoints, orit may touch it;at .certain,points only, for .instance, as where aribs orotherprotuberances are formed on the .insideofreceptacle 10, so as to position the inner container within .said receptacle while leaving spaces betweenthem. Such spaces are desirable as serving .to .receiveany overflow from 12, such as drippings, rather than to. permit them to over- .flowthe topv of the outercontainer l0.

.A.block.-l.'4.may betusedto support the candle J6 at.such a height thatthe wick of the candle, when unburned, -,Wl11$b6 positioned near the top .of the1container 12. This assures convenience of .access when -.lighting .the candle. In order that candles of various lengths may be used, with a .particular sized receptacle, each length of can- -dle being adapted for-a certain burning time, a :set ,of blocks -M.of .varying heights may be provided,.-and.by=selecting1a: suitable size of block the mid; of the candle may always be conveniently positioned.

In order. to shield the candle flame for the pur- ,fPOSQS hereinabove mentioned, I provide a cover for the receptacle ID. This cover is indicated at l8 and is also made of any suitable or preferred material, one of the desiderata of which also is unbreakability, although it need not be heavy like the material used for the receptacle ill. To lessen the liability of breakage, this cover may also be made of massive construction as shown in the drawing, and it is also shown as ornamental. To insure proper ventilation, I have provided a se ries of openings 20 arranged in a band around the cover member at a level somewhat higher than the candle flame, which level I have found to be satisfactory for the purpose of permitting the air to enter and to feed the candle flame for com- I bustion purposes. At the top of the cover I have shown another opening 22, and a tube 24 is supported within the cover by across bar 26. If desired, however, the opening 22 may be dispensed with, in which case the top of the cover will be closed.

Carried by the tube 24 is a double-walled canopy comprising an outer shell 28 and an inner shell 2% joined by spacing members 30 which, as illustrated, may be in the form of pins uniting the inner and outer canopies at spaced intervals. It will be noted that the lower rim of the canopy as shown is substantially at the level of the opening 20. This canopy may be removably supported on the tube 24 by means of a tubular extension 32 of the inner shell of the canopy and this tubular extension rests on a collar 34 carried by the tube 2G. The shells 28 and 26 are spaced from each other at their peripheries so that the space between them is open to the surrounding air at its peripheral portions.

When the candle I6 is burning, the products of combustion will escape through the tube 24, and into the space between the Walls of the inner and outer shells of the canopy and will then exhaust into the outer air at the rim of the canopy. This course of the products of combustion is indicated by the arrows a. The air supply for the candle flame, as has been previously mentioned, enters through the openings 20. The proper air circulation necessary for combustion is thereby secured, and the opening 22, if one is used, aids in securing this result.

I have found that by having the lower edge of the canopy on a level with the openings 20, the draft will be satisfactory, and at the same time the protection adequate. The canopy may also He made of such a size that if the candle is inverted and the drippings run out into the canopy, the latter will have sufficient capacity to receive them, even if the whole candle should melt, and thus avert injury to people handling it and to surrounding objects. For this purpose the ca pacity of the canopy may conveniently be made at least equal to that of the container I2, or still better, of the container ID.

The cover 18 may be provided with an extension 36 in a form of a hooked lug that will set into a recess 38 in the receptacle, thereby forming a hinge, and opposed to this hinge at the other side of the cover I may provide a spring clip 49, carried by the cover, and adapted to resiliently engage the rim portions of the receptacle In so as to lock the cover in place. The hinge construction 36, 38, it will be perceived, permits ready separation of cover I8 and receptacle Ill. Raised portions 42 may be applied to the bottom surface of the inside of the receptacle ID to afford a convenient seating place for the inner receptacle l2. Should any molten parafiin or wax overflow from I2 into receptacle II), it Will collect around the base of portions 42 and without reaching the in ner container l2, so as to prevent removal thereof when it solidifies. If desired, the container l2 may be dispensed with and the candle l6 set directly on the bottom of container Ill.

The outer container is provided with a set of feet 44 which may carry rubber pads 46 thereon and may be provided with bores 48 suitably threaded for the reception of legs 59. In this manner it will be seen that when my candle is tobe used in. the household, it may be set on the padded feet :14 without danger of injury to household furniture, while when it is used out doors, as in a cemetery, it may be mounted on the legs 56.

To those familiar with articles or" the nature of my invention its many uses and advantages will be obvious. After the canopy and cover l8 have been removed, a candle of suitable size for the number of hours it is intended to burn is inserted, the candle is then lighted, and the cover and canopy properly positioned, if it is desired to shield the flame. The candle may be then left without attendance and with the assurance that it will burn the desired number of hours. Where the candle is to be used indoors, such as in the home on table or mantelpiece, or in church or synagogue, it may be desired to dispense with the canopy c, and this may be removed, or again, both canopy C and cover l8 may be left ofi. It is unnecessary to further indicate the uses thereof as these will readily suggest themselves to users of my invention.

While my invention has been disclosed herein in one illustrative embodiment thereof, it will be obvious that it may be embodied in many forms,

as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A memorial candle construction having a receptacle adapted to receive and to completely surround a candle, said receptacle comprising a base and a cover, a seat for said cover on said receptacle base, a hook-like extension on said cover, an undercut recess in said seat on said receptacle base adapted to receive said extension, whereby said cover may be mounted on said receptacle base in removable hinged relation and complementary means carried by said cover and by said receptacle base and cooperating with said hinged construction to hold said'cover in place.

2. In a memorial candle construction, a container for a candle having ventilating openings therein positioned above the flame of a candle within said container and a canopy positioned over said container with its peripheral portions lowermost, below the level of. the top of the container and substantially on a level with said ventilating openings, said canopy being of hollow construction, with a space therein opening outwardly peripherally of said canopy, and extending completely around said periphery, and an opening leading from said container to the uppermost portions of the space within the canopy, and the level of said opening being above that of the peripheral portions of the canopy whereby the products of combustion from the container will enter the central opening of. the canopy and will be discharged peripherally of the canopy.

' 3. In a memorial candle construction, a receptacle adapted to receive a candle, foot members on the base of said receptacle adapted to serve as supports for the same when it is set down, cushioning means provided on said members so as to prevent injury to articles on which the receptacle is set, and means on each of said foot members adapted for the reception of supporting elements, whereby said receptacle may be supported in an elevated position.

4. For use with a memorial candle construction, a member adapted for the escape of. the products of combustion, said member being in the form of a double walled shell having its peripheral portions below its middle portion, and the space between the walls thereof opening outwardly at the periphery of the shell, the peripheral portions of the two walls of said shell lying substantially in the same horizontal plane, and the inner wall of said shell having an inlet opening at its middle portion above the level of said peripheral portion, whereby the products of combustion entering said inlet opening will be led outwardly and downwardly and escape at the peripheral portions of said shell.

5. For use with a memorial candle construction, a member adapted for the escape of the products of combustion, said member being in the form of a double walled shell of upwardly convex configuration in all directions having its peripheral portions below its middle portion, and the space between the walls thereof opening outwardly at the periphery of the shell, the peripheral portions of the two walls of said shell lying substantially in the same horizontal plane, and the inner wall of said shell having an inlet opening at its middle portion above the level of said peripheral portion, whereby the products of combustion entering said inlet opening will be led outwardly and downwardly and escape at the peripheral portions of said shell.

SAVERIO DELLA VALLE. 

